MoD chiefs launch crackdown to gag staff after Record reporter-turned-soldier revealed truth about life on Afghan frontline

WITHIN days of Record reporter Stephen Stewart's story, MoD bosses launched a gagging order which imposes strict controls over service personnel making contact with journalists - even in a social setting.

In his book, he questioned what the soon-to-end military deployment has achieved after 13 years, both for the service personnel who took part and Afghan citizens.

He wrote: “I just pray to God it was all worth it.”

The new guidelines – which apply to all members of the Armed Forces and MoD civilians – state: “All contact with the media or communication in public on defence topics must be authorised in advance.”

Stephen Stewart's book Accidental-Soldier-Cover.

Where unplanned contact is made with a journalist, troops are instructed to “immediately…notify media staff and provide a written account of the contact”.

The guidelines also state: “These rules apply if individuals encounter: journalists or other members of the news media in a social setting (whether work-related or not); third party individuals with known links to the media, such as commentators, academics, representatives of industry, think tanks or lobby groups, or former serving personnel with a media profile.”

The rules also state that any member of the forces wishing to communicate on social media on a “non-contentious” defence issue must also apply for authorisation to do so.

Failure to comply with the new rules will lead to disciplinary action.